A MAN was yesterday released on bail after being accused of attempting to smuggle a huge heroin haul worth £5.4m into the UK.

David Lewis, 47, of Nant Mawr Crescent, Buckley, is charged with hiding 120 kilos of the substance within the structure of a trailer.

Officers from the UK Border Agency also found £60,000 worth of amphetamines when they searched the lorry at Dover’s Eastern Docks ferry port on Thursday.

Yesterday Lewis, who was taken into custody, was brought before magistrates at Folkestone, Kent.

He was granted bail and will reappear again at a date to be fixed.

A UKBA spokesman said: “Early on Thursday morning, a lorry was stopped in the freight controls after it had disembarked a ferry.

“During a search of the vehicle which was carrying a load of mixed general cargo, UKBA officers discovered a large number of brown-taped packages hidden within the structure of the trailer. The contents of some of the packages tested positive for heroin.”

“The driver of the vehicle, David Lewis, 47, of 54 Nant Mawr Crescent, Buckley, was interviewed and subsequently charged with attempting to smuggle drugs into the UK.

“Magistrates have granted him bail.”

Bob Gaiger, HMRC, Dover spokesman said: “This was another excellent detection by UK Border Agency officers which led to the seizure of a very significant amount of drugs.

“HMRC together with UKBA play a vital role in the fight to prevent illegal drugs from entering the UK and in protecting our communities from the violence and corruption that always accompany this hideous trade.”

On Tuesday, a man from Essex was remanded in custody after ten kilos of cocaine valued at £400,000 was seized at Dover Ferry Port.

Anyone with information about activity they suspect may be linked to drugs smuggling can call the 24-hour Customs Hotline on 0800 59 5000.